SEEK AND SPARK

For my non-Kenyan friends, “usiguse murima” loosely translates to “don’t touch the mountain.” It’s a phrase that recently sparked national conversation and debate in Kenya, thanks to a certain Deputy President whose passionate defense of “the mountain” became his calling card—and, ironically, his downfall. Accused of tribalism and labeled a “tribal chief” rather than a national leader, his values (or the perception of them) came under sharp scrutiny. The gusto with which he guarded the mountain earned him applause from some and ire from others. Ultimately, it landed him in hot water, costing him his position. As I watched this political drama unfold, I couldn’t help but reflect: What values do our leaders actually live by? And more importantly, what values do I live by? The truth is, values drive our behavior and character whether or not we’re conscious of them. They’re like an unspoken signature that defines how we’re perceived—and remembered. Just as the Deputy President'...

  In my last post , I took you through the loops and stitches that have reawakened my creativity. Rediscovering my passions has been thrilling and humbling, as I learned to create anew with yarn and a hook. Now, as I think about what it means to grow intentionally, I realize that purpose isn’t just about what we create—it’s also about what we nurture . So here’s where this journey takes an unexpected twist: what if we thought about building our purpose and dreams the way we grow a garden? A few months back, I stumbled upon something that made me consider this connection—joining Arobaini Sacco ( Savings and Credit Cooperative ). It might sound slightly different from crocheting or storytelling, but stay with me! Imagine your purpose as a garden. It starts with a single seed, an idea, or maybe a tiny hope for a brighter future. But just like any garden, purpose needs care. It needs fertile soil, water, sunlight, and a bit of attention every day. Now, think about your garden ...

This year, I took a leap into the world of crocheting, and it has been nothing short of transformative. As I've learned to create beautiful patterns and intricate stitches, I've also uncovered a deeper sense of creativity within myself. Each loop and knot serves as a reminder of the beauty of expression and the power of art in my life. As I mentioned in my previous blog ,  the journey toward discovering purpose requires a lot of introspection and self-exploration. During my usual moments of reflection, I found myself revisiting the times when I felt most creative. I spent a significant part of my childhood in boarding school, where I discovered my talents and love for the creative arts. I excelled in music, drama, storytelling—basically, anything that encouraged me to step outside of myself and become something new. I’m grateful that my teachers quickly identified, nurtured, and encouraged my gifts. In fact, I remember a primary school teacher who often said, “Zinma, make sur...

It's interesting the kind of information you'll come across when doing a random search on the internet. The other day I googled "How to discover your passion" and I was shocked at how much information and "tests" are out there. But one site that piqued my interest was " ClarityofFire.com ". There's a quiz on this page that helps you discover and combine your career and passion to help you live an energized, fulfilling, and inspiring life. Few people have this privilege. Many grapple with not only finding their true passion and living by it, but balancing whatever they do to earn a living with what they need to do to satisfy them.  At the end of the quiz, you receive a detailed description of the kind of person you are out of these four categories;  Firestarter , T ribe member ,  Side-hustler , and  Thriver . Turns out I'm a firestarter! Needless to say, as I went through the description, I wanted to retake the test. And I did. I'm still...

At the beginning of his tenure, King Hezekiah was quite remarkable and was considered to be one of the most faithful and God-fearing kings that reigned in Judah. And then he got sick. He was so sick that a Prophet approached him and advised him to set his affairs in order because he was certainly going to die. But being a man of prayer, Hezekiah cried out to God for healing and God granted his wish and further added 15 more years to his life. Naturally, Hezekiah’s miraculous recovery attracted a lot of attention from friends and foes alike. On one occasion, he was visited by envoys from Babylon who ostensibly went to pay courtesy and show solidarity to their fellow royalty. Their kind gesture was greeted with an enthusiastic reception from Hezekiah who went further and showed them all his treasures and armory. I imagine that it was flattering for King Hezekiah to receive notice and recognition from the King of Babylon, and he must have felt really important. After all, Judah was stil...

  Like most people, I always look forward to the new year for two reasons: one, I get to set new goals for the year, and second, I get to celebrate my birthday again. So a new year for me is a two-fold celebration of new prospects, second chances, and renewed hope of life.   I am not one to “go big” during birthdays and more often than not I don’t usually make a fuss so pandemic or not, there was no solid plan for a celebration this year. However, I am surrounded by amazing friends and family who always challenge this “boring” habit. Make no mistake, I do engage in certain rituals to honor the day. At the stroke of midnight on January 1 st , 2021, while the world was ushering in the new year with singing, fireworks, and champagne, I was fast asleep! At the stroke of midnight on January 2 nd , 2021, on my birthday, I was wide awake! And the realization that this year was going to be more significant than any other hit me like a ton of bricks! As if by sheer coincidence...

  So I recently attempted an experiment called “Digital Minimalism” which is a concept that was curated by Prof. Cal Newport who advocates that we should all start questioning and choosing which digital communication tools are necessary for our happiness. So I took his advice and decided to delete all my social media apps from my phone. Never mind that my job requires that I keep tabs with emerging trends so not only was this experiment difficult to follow through but it felt like I was committing career-suicide and obviously missing out on a lot. Also, for those that know me well, they understand that I am a “news junkie”. I like to be in the know in the fastest way possible. Traditional media offers me the news but not in the fastest way possible. For avoidance of doubt, I failed spectacularly!   Two days into the experiment, I was slowly re-installing some apps back on my phone but I tried my best to keep my interactions with them to a minimum 😊 . I used the extra time...